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I mourn the loss of these little 1/87 scale gems. The detail is unmatched in 1/87 scale vehicles (imo) and I have enjoyed building many over the years. Apparently Jordan Jackson, the son of the original creator and latest operator of the business, has put in his will that the masters and moulds be destroyed, leaving many of us looking for something to fill the void as well as an unbelievable escalation in prices on ebay. Be that as it may, I show here what is one of my last kits in the Bucyrus Erie b-2 steam crawler in a crane configuration. The cabin rotates 360° and the boom operates to a small degree with the use of a rubberized cable. Not much change to the kit except for the omission of the wooden sides so as to view the workings inside better and the addition of a wooden coal bin.

When someone like you can build such a terrific model from his kits, it seems idiotic for Jordan Jackson to destroy the masters and molds. For no apparent reason he is depriving the world of a good product. Can't he just find a suitable guy and either sell or give away the hardware? -- Russ

Though I've heard that "destroy them" rumor, I've not heard it from anyone who actually KNOWS it to be true. Not sure we ever will. It's an interesting story. If there really was that much demand for them, someone else will certainly be able to cut new injection molding tools and bring them (and others) back to the market.

I doubt that will happen. They are beautiful little kits, but I suspect nobody got rich making them!

Thanks for all the kind words. As to whether the rumor is correct or not concerning the demise of the line, simply try to place an order with these folks and you will get a response that says they will no longer be available.

I've also heard various versions of the "molds will be destroyed" stories. Some supposedly 'reported' because many of the molds were beginning to wear out, Jordan Jackson did not want his name connected to possibly lesser new molds. Another version was that although the kits sold well, it was not a big money making enterprise and he did not want to burden family with either trying to continue the business or sorting out and selling it off.

Either way, if the models truly will not ever be produced again it will be a loss. The difference in prices before and after he died seemed to support the belief that it was the end of the line.

Really nice model, and I just figured out that you are Chester from years ago! Too bad about the Jordan kits, about 10 years ago I bought a few of the crane/shovels thinking back then that they were not not long for the world.

It's something about people on their death beds that they get the idea to destroy their life work will make them more noble or something.Never made logical sense. I had a relative order her manuscript destroyed but I had a copy from years earlier and was able to publish it.Family has been thankful for getting a copy of it.Maybe someone will re-design and copy the molds for new releases.